Week 1 (Late Entry) and On Into Week 2…better late than never..blame it on the internet connection!!!

The first week has been wonderful. Gary and I graduated from the Life on Wheels Conference on Saturday. This was an excellent conference. I recommend it to anyone interested in the RV’ing lifestyle. Click on the link to learn more.
http://www.rvlifeonwheels.com/

We arrived in Kentucky on Monday and spent the next two nights at the Barron River State Park campground. This was a quiet campground in a rural setting on the Barron River. Since almost everyone had left the campground after the Kentucky Derby we had it almost to ourselves. I had a fair internet connection using my Verizon wireless card and was able to get some work done.

On Wednesday we moved to the KOA campground in Bowling Green. This was our home during the LOW Conference. Many other LOW members were there also.

We met many new RV’ers (wannabee, newbie and experienced). And we learned a lot of new things. There were so many courses to choose from. It was hard to decide which ones to attend. We’re already discussing attending another one later on. The LOW Conferences are offered several times a year at various locations by the University of Idaho. Well worth the cost!!

One of the LOW Instructors offered a mobile service to weigh the truck and camper. So, we had that done on Saturday. We were very relieved to learn everything weighed less than our limits of 7700 pounds. The first thing I said “ Oh boy, now I can get some more stuff” . Well, it might be “light weight” but the volume is sure full. I’d have to hang anything else I get from the ceiling. Can you say STUFFED? Some more of the STUFF is going into storage when we get back. I just don’t need some if it. We keep on learning.

Last night we met a very nice couple staying right down the road from us. Our dog Ellie and their dog Guido played for the longest time. It was wonderful to see. Ellie sure seemed to enjoy it. She was smiling!!! Liz took some pictures and is going to send them to me. I’ll post a couple when I get them.

We stayed at the KOA until today. This morning we decided to start back towards North Carolina. We learned our son-in-law was admitted to the hospital yesterday. He is OK but they are going to move him to a larger hospital and run some more tests. Hopefully before we get back, he’ll be better and released.

We did stop at the National Corvette Museum before leaving Bowling Green. Very impressive. Gary called a friend from his old job to ask him if we could get him a souvenir. He is crazy about Corvettes. But he told Gary there were so many things he’d like to see that he just couldn’t think about it. Maybe he’ll be able to get up this way sometime.

The closing on our house is coming up and we received the “punch list” from the Realtor on Friday. A bunch of little things for Mr Fix-it. Nothing major, thank goodness. We’ll have about a week to get them all done before closing.

Monday night we stayed at the Levi Jackson State Park in London Kentucky. These state parks are great. Since it is early in the season both of the ones we stayed at have been very quiet. Great for walking and just enjoying the sound of the birds and breeze. Not so hot today either. We splurged and had dinner at the Golden Corral. Yipes we needed that walk when we got back. We’re watching Dream Girls on DVD tonight. Outstanding movie.

Tuesday morning, we jumped up (OK that may be a bit of an overstatement for me)..
about 10:00am we started getting ready to travel again. It takes us about a half hour to prepare the trailer to tow. Not to bad, but we hope to decrease it with more practice.

We took a rural (red road) route from London, KY traveling down toward the borders of KY, TN and VA. We stopped in Middlesboro, KY for lunch. Hold your breath..wait for it..WE ATE AT A MEXICAN RESTAURANT. Can you believe it??? For those of you that don't know, Mr P DOES NOT LIKE Mexican food. But, they had a steak cooked just the way he likes it so he was happy. So was I...cheese dip anyone??

We went through the Cumberland Gap tunnel and on into Virginia.
Have you ever traveled VA 421 through the mountains? It is VERY CURVY and has some steep grades. The GMC did great though and we made it up and down and around the hills just fine.

I only saw "white knuckles" a couple of times (don't tell him I noticed..OK?)

We've arrived at Marion VA and have set up at the Hungry Mother's campground. Another state park. Virginia's sites cost $5.00 more than KY and no discounts. Yuck!
But it was a beautiful park. Many flowers.

We talked to Jenn and Mark is doing better. They are finally moving him to the "Big" hospital to do the additional tests. Hopefully they'll know all by tomorrow.

Supper time..so off I go. We're having a sandwich for supper since we had such a heavy lunch.
Then a walk in the cool breeze before bed.

Love to you all, Deb